Method of making cages for antifriction-bearings.



B. EITNER. METHOD OF MAKING GAGES FOR ANTIFBIGTION BEARINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 30, 1908. I

Patented Sept. 5, 1911.

1 BER'IHOLD EITNER, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

' METHOD OF MAKING GAGES FOR ANTIFRICTION-BEARINGS.

subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,

5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Cages for Antifriction-Bearings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to a method of making cages for. anti-friction bearings from a metal strip or similar flat material, which consists broadl of the following steps: First, forming in said material the receptacles for the rolling members, and second, altering its shape to conform substantially to that of the casing elements, so that it may be received between them in the man-- ner well known in the art. More specifically, the strip or similar material is notched or cut into from the opposite sides thereof, so as to divide it into sections, which sections are bent over transversely to the strip and formed as receptacles to adapt themselves to the shape of the balls or, other rolling elements, these receptacles being connected to each other in series by transverse portions extending from one receptacle to the next. These transverse portions are then bentor inclined so as to cause the cage to assume circular form, thus conforming it to the shape of the raceway and of the casing elements, between which it is intended to operate.

The strip or similar flat material employed is preferably thin and of a tough and flexible material. The cage constructed therefrom fully meets and satisfies the technical and economical requirements of antifriction bearin Not only does it sufiiciently surroun and hold the balls or other rolling elements against displacement, but affords the maximum amount of exposure of their bearing surfaces. Again, it IS sim- 1e, cheap, has little weight, andoccupies 1 ut little space in the bearing. Other advanta es residing in this method of construction are that the employment ofthe strip or other flat material practically dispenses with waste, and that it bends easily and readil not only when forming the receptacles, utalpiwhen' caused to assume its circularshape. As illustrated herein, the method is shown as applied to constructing 'a' cage for a radial bearing, but

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 80,- 1908. Serial No. 470,061.

Patented Sept. 5 1911.

obviously it may be similarly applied to other forms.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, illustrate the different steps and features of my invention as a plied in the construction of cages for anti-friction bearin and will be referred to more in detail 1n the description which follows.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the strip or similar fiat material is shown as notched or cut into from the opposite edges thereof, whereby'it is divided into a number of sections (1, a, each of which is designed to form a receptacle for a ball, which is the form of rolling element herein selected by way of example. It will be noted that the cuts or notches are located at opposite points of the strip, thus leaving connecting portions 8, s, and s s, respectively, which connect one section with the next one. It will also be seen, that the cuts or notches between two contiguous sections are of unequal depth, and further that the long and shallow notches are alternated along thesides of the strip, as clearly shown in the said figure. Due to this alternate arrangement, the connecting portions .9, s, and s s respectively, are located near the opposite edges, all of the connecting portions 8, .9, being in line with each other near one edge, and the connecting portions 8 8 being in line with each other near he otheredge. The sections are then bent: over transversely, preferably around a longitudinal mandrel, as shown in side view in Fig. 2,, and in transverse section in Fig. 3', thus forming a trough-like structure comprising a series of U-shaped sections a, connected to each other at opposite sides and alternately by the connecting portions .9, s, ands s, respectively. The sections a are then bent partially to conform to the spherical configuration of the balls, so as to hold the latter in operative position, but at the same time per mitt-ing their necessary freedom of move- 'ment. This step is preferably accomplished by the use of suitable dies and counter-dies, one of the sections thus shaped being illustrated in Fig. 4. Referring now to Fig. 5, the material is shaped into circular form by bending the connecting portions 8, s, and. s s alternately to the right and left, as clearly illustrated in the figure referred to. The halls may then be inserted in the respective receptacles, after which the ends of the casing elementsi projecting portion b is left at each end of the stri which portions 6 may beemplo ed or the purpose of attachin the two. en s to each other inthe finishe cage, as shown in Fi 7. If desired, these ends may be unite in any manner, asby rivets, solder, and the like, or they may be left disconnected, when it is desired to allow the cage more freedom of play, and the consequent self-adjustment of the rolling members.

Obviously many different modes-of carrying the invention into effect are ossible, and I desire to be understood that'1t 1s not limited to any specific form, exce t in so far as such limitations are speci ed in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. Themethod of making a cage for antifriction bearings from a strip or other flat material, consisting of the followingv steps: first, dividing it into sections b cutting notches in the sides thereof, secon bending the sections transversely to the strip an forming therein receptacles for the rolling members, and third, altering its shape to conformosubstantially to that of the raceway in the casing elements. 3 2. The method of making a cage for antifriction bearings from a strip or other flat. material, consistin first, dividing it mto sections by cutting notches in the'sides thereof from opposite points and. leaving connecting-portions from for instance'at 9. Re-,

being of unequal depth, secon of the following steps:'

one section to the'next, second, bendin the sections transversely to the strip andorm- 4% first, dividing it into sections by cutting notches in the sides thereof from opposite points and-leaving connecting portions from one section to the next, the opposite notches bendin'gthe sections transversely to the strip and forming therein receptacles for the rolling mem- 6 bers, and third, bending these connecting portions to conform itsshape' substantially to that of the raceway in the casing elements. a

4. The method of makinga cage for anti- 6 friction bearings from a strip or other flat material, consistin of the following. ste s:. first, dividing it 1nto sections by cutting notchesin-the sides thereof from opposite points, and leaving connecting portions 7 from one section to the next, the op osite notches being of unequal depth an arranged altern'atel alongthe respective sides, second, bending t e sections transversely to the strip and forming therein receptacles 7 for the rolling members, and third, bendin these connectmg portions transversely an alternately inopposite directions so as to conform its 'sha e-substantially to that of the raceway in t e casin elements.

-In testimony whereo I have afiixed my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

' BERTHOLD EITNER.

- Witnesses:

HENRY H'Asrnn,

WonnnM'An HAUPT. 

